Frequently Asked Questions

A childcare / long daycare centre supports children from infancy to school age. These centres offer longer hours for working families and usually operate year-round with a short closure over the Christmas/New Year period.

We don’t actually use the word childcare or daycare to describe ourselves, as it is not an accurate reflection of all of the learning that takes place within our services. Our educators are skilled, qualified professionals who intentionally create learning experiences to set children up for success by building confidence, relationships, communication skills, creativity and curiosity.

Comparatively, preschool only supports children aged 3 to 6 years and generally has shorter session times similar to a school day. They run in line with school terms, with approximately 12 weeks of closure each year.

See the table below for a direct comparison:

Giving children the opportunity to build relationships and confidence during this crucial period of development can be easier for families when younger siblings can attend the same service.

Fees vary depending on your child’s age and the number of days you attend.

All Explore & Develop services are approved providers for both the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Start Strong Preschool Fee Relief, which may help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. The best way to understand your actual cost is to check your CCS eligibility and confirm fees with your chosen service.

It’s also important to look at what is included in the daily fee when comparing multiple centres. Higher-quality services may have higher fees due to offering higher quality resources, more inclusions, experienced educators and a stronger overall learning environment for children.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is an Australian Government subsidy designed to make the cost of childcare more accessible for most Australian families.

Your exact CCS amount depends on your family income, your activity level, such as work, study or volunteering, and the type of childcare you use. All Explore & Develop services are CCS-eligible.

Many families receive a significant reduction in their fees due to CCS. You can estimate your subsidy using our Child Care Subsidy calculator.

Start by looking for centres close to home or work, then compare quality ratings, reviews, educator experience and what is included in the daily fee. Convenience matters too. Consider opening hours, parking, public transport access and whether the service will work for your family long-term.

It’s also important to look at the people behind the service. Who owns or operates the service and do you have direct access to communicate with them about your family and child’s needs? Ask about educator qualifications, staff turnover and how the service supports ongoing professional development for their team. Consistent, experienced educators help children build strong relationships and feel secure.

Visiting in person is one of the best ways to decide if a service feels right for your child and family. During your tour, pay attention to how educators interact with children, whether children seem happy and engaged, how the learning spaces are set up and whether the environment feels warm, safe and welcoming. Most importantly, trust your instincts because you know your child best.

For more advice, read our article about how to choose the right education and care service for your child, or find your local Explore & Develop service.

Many families join waitlists during pregnancy or shortly after birth, particularly if they need care before their child turns one.

Waitlist times can vary greatly depending on location and age group. If you know when you may return to work, it helps to start looking early.

Most centres accept babies from around six weeks of age, although some families choose to start later depending on parental leave and personal preference.

Reach out to your local Explore & Develop to discuss your personal needs and how they can support your family with the transition to care that works for you and your child.

Look for warm educator relationships, strong communication, a safe and welcoming environment, happy children, qualified educators and a clear learning program. Trusting how the centre feels during your visit is important.

All early childhood education and care services in Australia are assessed under the National Quality Standard (NQS) by a regulatory body known as ACECQA, which stands for Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.

You can search a centre’s rating through the ACECQA Starting Blocks website to see how the centre has been assessed across seven National Quality Areas:

1. Educational Program and Practice
2. Children’s Health and Safety
3. Physical Environment
4. Staffing Arrangements
5. Relationships with Children
6. Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities
7. Governance and Leadership

Look for a service that has a rating of Meeting or Exceeding the National Quality Standards, or one that has been named Excellent. Excellent is the highest rating a service can achieve, with only a handful of services in Australia holding this rating.

Ask about educator qualifications, daily routines including sleep, meals and nutrition, communication with families, child safety procedures and how children are supported to settle in.

The service should be welcoming and they are there to support you, so feel free to ask anything that is worrying you, or that you need to know in order to feel confident and comfortable.

For more tips, read our article about how to choose the right education and care service for your child.

Every child is different. Some settle within days, while others may take several weeks.

A supportive orientation process, consistent routines and strong educator relationships can help make the transition much smoother.

Research has proven that high-quality early childhood education supports children’s social skills, confidence, language development, independence and school readiness.

It also helps children build relationships, routines, and a love of learning from an early age. According to the Department of Education, quality early childhood education and care leads to better health, education and employment outcomes later in life.

Read more about the lifelong benefits of early childhood education and care.

Start Strong Funding is completely separate from the Child Care Subsidy. Start Strong is a NSW Government fee relief program for 3, 4 and 5 year old preschool children. It is designed to incentivise attendance in the two years prior to school, as evidence shows participation in quality early learning in the two years before school leads to the best outcomes for children. All NSW-based Explore & Develop services are eligible for Start Strong Fee Relief funding. Please contact your service directly for detailed information about how the fee relief is applied.